Tuesday, March 11, 2008

1. What are your favorite traits in a lead male character?Charisma. Even if he’s not a prince, a man needs to be charming. I also like male characters who are kind. No matter how good he is or how bad he’s been, he needs to be capable of rescuing the heroine, even if she can rescue herself.

2. What inspires your female character to do what she does – and that attracts the male?The women in my stories are strong, though certainly not perfect. In the case of Lilith Mercury, she is her own worst enemy. Lilith is motivated by a need to save everyone. She has what some might call a “hero complex.” Since she was attacked by werewolves at an early age, forever changing the course of her destiny, she seeks to prevent others from suffering her fate. Sometimes she puts herself at risk too much, but that’s her job. She is willing to sacrifice herself if it will save someone else.

The men in my stories are attracted to independent women. They look for an equal, a companion more than a “mate.” This is what attracts Marco to Lilith. It is also what attracts other men in my stories to the female lead.

3. What or who inspired you to start writing?When my mother used to read me bedtime stories as a child I knew that I wanted to write. I thought it was so amazing to put all those wonderful elements on paper. I wanted to create my own universes and fantasy worlds. I couldn’t wait to share my ideas with others.

4. Do you base your lead characters on people that inspire you?Sometimes. For the most part, Lilith Mercury is based on my personality. Needless to say, she isn’t perfect. But I think that’s what makes her human despite her genetics. Marco is a few different men I’ve known all pieced together and Alfred is actually based on a friend of mine named Alfred. He also gave me some pointers on speaking Italian.

5. What are your writing habits? Do you write daily?I don’t always write daily. However, I do jot down ideas very frequently. I’m constantly planning my next book, whether in my head or on paper. When I’m working on a novel, then I write daily. I set a goal for myself each day, like writing 10 pages and I stick to it as much as possible.

6. If you’ve ever been struck by writer’s block, how did you get around it?I have been very blessed in that I never run out of ideas. I may pause temporarily while trying to decide which idea to write next, but that’s about it.

7. What stories or novels are on your shelf at home? Or on your hard drive?A complete collection of Edgar Allan PoeFrankenstein by Mary ShelleyThe Inferno by Dante AlighieriInterview with a vampire by Ann RiceShakespeare and the art of verbal seductionBullfinch’s Mythology

8. What’s the first book you can remember reading that inspired you to write what you do?The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

9. What is your favorite word? Why? (It’s ok, you don’t have to know why.)At the moment, my favorite word is passion. It can be so many things. It can be sexual or it can be ambition. It is the force that drives us in more ways than one.

10. When is your next release?I don’t have an exact release date, but The Dread Moon, book three in my werewolf hunter series will be out sometime this spring.

11. Are you currently working on any special projects you’d like to share?At the moment, I’m making notes on five different books. Just as soon as I make up my mind which one to write I’ll get started. Ha ha ha.

12. Your site (http://www.traceyhkitts.com) says that you’ll donate 10% of ALL your royalties to St. Jude Children's Hospital. That’s incredibly generous and noble, what inspired you to do this?I am drawn very much to help children. My husband and I have lost relatives to cancer and it is something that is very close to my heart. More than anything, I would want to keep a child from suffering needlessly if I could.

Tracey H. Kitts is the author of the Lilith Mercury: Werewolf Hunter Series with New Concepts Publishing.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Michelle O’Neill and Lindsey Bayer’s Midnight Becomes You begins with Lyric Sage’s rainy commute to work.The authors do a fantastic job of introducing readers to the world of the paranormal.Readers discover Lyric has gone through a testing process in hopes of being hired by the NSA.As she leaves her apartment for a job interview, she is surprised that her application with the NSA has brought FBI agents to her door.They aren’t there to offer her the position she applied for, though.Because of her perfect score on the precognition section of the test, they offer her a position with the NSA’s secret division, Midnight Underground.She makes a reckless decision, one of many in this story, and accepts.

Her first day with Midnight Underground brings her in contact with Lucifer Tanner.Lucifer’s telekinesis has an erotic impact on Lyric when she has a disturbing vision of them together in bed.Unwilling to admit she really has psychic abilities, despite all evidence to the contrary, Lyric fights Lucifer as he tries to force her to master her previously ignored skills.Lucifer forcing Lyric to use her psychic abilities becomes one of the main themes of the story.

It is a bit difficult to understand Lyric’s intense denial of her psychic abilities.Her motivation is weak, and her objections against using her abilities come across as forced.After several bad decisions, which do not endear this reader to the heroine, she finally gets passed her conflict with Lucifer and figures out her powers.

There is an odd scene where Lucifer takes Lyric to bed after she passes out during training. It appears as if he uses his telekinesis to sexually molest her.She objects at first, but the conflict doesn’t interfere with the pair’s attraction with each other, which seems odd.As he pushes her to use her powers, their attraction for each other comes to a peak, and they give in to their desires.During their sexual exploits, Lyric is able to use Lucifer to concentrate her power and increase the focus of her visions.As she does, she becomes the target of another psychic who wants to steal Lyric’s power.

Together, the pair face-off with a psychotic who is bent on their destruction.

1. What are your favorite traits in a lead male character?I want a hero. Someone that’s ready to kick ass or lay down his life for the woman he loves or the cause he believes in. He doesn’t have to be a swaggering extrovert. He can be a scholarly type like Jack Wolfe in Boji Stones, but he has to have enough inner strength to get the job done.

2. What inspires your female character to do what she does – and that attracts the male?My female characters are independent, strong women. They aren’t looking for love, though it always finds them:) This attracts their men. The fact that they come in a great looking package of course doesn’t hurt anything. Grin.

3. What or who inspired you to start writing?I was such a bookworm growing up. I had my nose in a book constantly. I think writing is a natural progression. After reading stories that other people created, I wanted to create my own.

4. Do you base your lead characters on people that inspire you?They are based on my ideas of what make up an inspirational person.

5. What are your writing habits? Do you write daily?I work full time and I write full time. When I get home from work I usually grab a diet Pepsi, something to eat and head for the computer. And I write on weekends.

6. If you’ve ever been struck by writer’s block, how did you get around it?I try to write through it. I’m a big believer in you can redo a bad piece of writing but you can’t rewrite a blank page. :)

7. What stories or novels are on your shelf at home? Or on your hard drive?Last Man Standing by Janet Davies. Hundred Dollar Bill by Sherry Morris. To Love a Hero by Mona Risk. Heart of the Forsaken by Angela Verdenius. Cold Turkey by Janice Bennett. And I’m a big fan of Nora Roberts. She’s an amazing storyteller.

8. What’s the first book you can remember reading that inspired you to write what you do?There’s not one book I can name. It’s been a combination of different authors and different writing styles.

9.What is your favorite word? Why? (It’s ok, you don’t have to know why.)Good question. Wondrous. We all need a little wonder in our lives.

10. When is your next release?Rose Quartz, a paranormal romance, is released March 20 at cerridwenpress.com. It’s the second in my amulet series. Thanks for asking.

11. Are you currently working on any special projects you’d like to share?I’m working on three: the 4th in my magic amulet series, the 3rd in the Cats of Catarau series and another cat fantasy.

12. The Cats of Catarau – Shardai…I’m fascinated by this title and blurb, but I have no idea what to ask about it! Not being a cat lover, I don’t think I have any real knowledge of the matter, but tell us this – romance and cats?

Shardai is a YA fantasy that can be read by people of all ages. Most of my books are based on ‘what ifs’. What if an amulet had magic power? How would a modern day woman deal with that power? What if you really could see a handsome stranger in a crystal ball?

Shardai is based on the same concept. I lost my twelve year cat to cancer. I was grieving and wanted him back desperately. Those that have lost beloved pets will understand. Those that aren’t animal lovers will probably roll their eyes. Grin. So I wrote a ‘what if’. What if a cat could journey back from the afterlife to find his caregiver?

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